After playing out a shock 2-2 draw against Farashganj SC in their previous game, Mohammedan Sporting Club returned to their winning ways after recording an emphatic 3-0 win over Brothers Union in the Bangladesh League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Dami Emanuel, Zahid Hasan Emily and Alamu Bukola netted one goal each to help Mohammedan raise their points tally to 52 from 20 outings, still six points behind leaders Abahani.

The margin of the win might lead many to believe that Mohammedan's 16th victory was emphatic, but the fact was that the initially struggled to control the midfield against a side to whom they handed a 2-0 defeat in their first meeting.

Winger Zahid Hossain, Mofazzal Hossain Saikat and midfielder Shakil Ahmed found places in the starting eleven in place of Nasir Chowdhury, the injured defender Nasir and

Mamunul Islam. The giants toiled hard to establish control in midfield before Dami gave Mohammedan a 23rd-minute lead after Emily squandered a penalty kick.

Brothers' defender Apu brought down Sharif inside the danger zone and referee Hannan Miron did not hesitate to award a spot kick, but Emily struck his shot straight at goalkeeper Sabuj Das. Defender Arif also hit the rebound against the goalkeeper before Dami lashed the rebound home.

Brothers nearly leveled the margin two minutes from the break, but Mohammedan's goalkeeper Aminul Haque came out with a timely intervention to thwart a dangerous effort from Ghanaian Enock Bentil to save the Black and Whites.

After the resumption, Mohammedan had to wait only six minutes to double the margin as left-back Wali Faisal whipped in a cross for Emily, who headed the cross home to raise his goal tally to 15, two less than rival Abahani striker Enamul Haque.

Nigerian striker Bukola sealed the fate of the game striking his league's 13th goal. The highest scorer of the previous edition capitalized on a through pass from substitute Abdul Baten Komol and cleverly sent the ball over goalkeeper Sabuj, who stood on the edge of the eight-yard box and had no way to stop the nearly 25-yard shot.

In the absence of coach Maruful Haque, assistant coach Mohammad Ponir guided the side to register a comprehensive victory. "The boys played accordingly and we are looking forward to winning the next four matches and we are hopeful of being able to do it."

Manager Amirul Islam informed that Maruful did not turn up because of an upset stomach.

Ponir, however, informed that Maruf did not come to the practice since their 2-2 draw against Farashganj SC.

TEAMS

MOHAMMEDAN: Aminul Haque, Arman Aziz (Abdul Baten Komol), Wali Faisal (Yamin Ahmed Munna), Zahid Hossain (Nasir Chowdhury), Enamul Haque Sharif, Dami Emanuel, Alamu Bukola Olaleken, Shakil Ahmed, Ariful Islam Arif and Mofazzal Hossain Saikat.

BROTHERS UNION: Sabuj Das Ragu, Sawkat Russel, Tanmoy Hossain Taru, Murad Ahmed Milon (Moksudul Alam Bulbul), Nahidul Islam, Enock Bentil, Lutfar Rahman Noyon (Khalilur Rahman Noyon), Ripon Khan (M Adil), Yousuf Ali Khan and Tofazzal Ali Khan.

Yellow cards: Ripon (Brothers), Saikat (Mohammedan) Referee: Abdul Hannan Miron